Power-transmission coupling



Jan. 21, 5,5 K E v 2,028,500 I I POWER TRANSMISSION COUPLING 7 Filed June 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO RN. E (S Patented Jan. 21, 19 36 a 2,028,500 POWERQTRANSMISSION COUPLING Stanley'Snii'th Cook and Louis Mortimer Douglas,

Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, assignors to The Parsons Marine Steam TurbineCompany, Limited, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England fApplication June 2, 1934, Serial No. 728,664 I In Great Britain June 8,'1933 a 7 Claims. 01. 192-41) The inyentionfrelates to power-transmission couplings suitable for shafts and particularly to cases in which itis necessary to provide for a certain amount of flexibility in case of a want of .5 alignment between the driving and driven members.

indicated comprise an intermediate coupling member with dogs or clawsv which engage with 18 corresponding dogs or claws on the twoshafts to be coupled v In order that the claw coupling may perform its wort: satisfactorily, ithas necessarily to be of considerable length to reduce the tilt to which it is subjected by want of alignment, and if such a coupling and also a unidirectional clutch are used in. the same length of shafting, 'a consider.- able amount ofspace'is occupied in the axial direction.

A main object of the present invention is to render such an arrangementmore compact.

With such an object, the invention consists in a power-transmission coupling comprising the combinations of elements hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal elevation,in section as regards its upper half, of one form of coupling according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a corresponding section on the 0 line 2--2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1; while Figure 4 shows a plan view of part of the intermediate coupling member removed from the as- 0 sembly.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the form. illustrated applied to aligned driving and driven shafts, 2 and 2a, the adjacent ends of these shafts are provided with flanges, 3, 4,

and an annular angle, 5, 8, or the like is bolted to the periphery of each flange, 3, 4, carrying a set of dogs or claw teeth, I, 8, on its inner circumference. The dogs, T, associated with the driving member, 2, engage with corresponding dogs, 9, on an intermediate length of shaft, I II,

I provided at the end remote from the dogs, I, with an annular set of helical teeth, I I, (see Figure 4) and a plane abutment surface, I 2, which engages shaft, I4, provided with dogs or claws, I5, en-

gaging with the complementary set, 8, secured to the driven member, 2a.

5 The shaft, I4, is provided with an outstanding Examples of couplings suitable for the purpose with a like surface, I3, on a second length of flange, I6, to which is bolted near periphery an annular element, I1, coned internally to engage with an externally-coned annular nut, I8,

providedlon its inner surface with helical teeth,

I9, engaging with the teeth, I I, above mentioned.

A'suitable device is provided for moving the 5v nut, I8, into operative engagement with the surrounding cone, I1, and for this purpose, light springs, 20, are conveniently arranged between the nut, I8, itself and the intermediate shaft, III, the ends of eachspring, 20, being connected to 0 pins 2 I, 22, screwed into the parts between which it acts.

In the exampleof the invention illustrated, an annular groove, 23, is formed on the nut, I 8, to

accommodates, member, 24, disposed therein,

this member being operable by any suitable means. 4

In the example described, it will be seen that the two lengths of shafting, I0 and I4, the coned nut, I8,'and the internally-coned element, II, are in effect self-aligning and together constitute the body of the intermediate coupling member.

In operation, the driving shaft, 2, transmits torque by way of its own set of dogs, I, to the intermediate length of shaft, I0, carrying the helical teeth, II, which are so arranged that by coaction with the similar teeth, IS, on the floating nut, I8, the latter is moved axially to engage with the surrounding coned element, I'l, bolted to the second intermediate shaft, I4.

In the circumstances described, when the driving shaft, 2, transmits torque to the driven shaft, 2a, the butting of the surfaces, I2, I3, on the intermediate coupling members, III, I4, provides the necessary reaction for bringing the coned nut, I8, into operation.

If the direction of rotation of the shaft, 2, is reversed, then, owing to the engagement of the helical teeth, II, I9, the coned nut, I8, is moved clutch, ofwhich it forms part, can operate as a free-wheel, that is to say it can rotate freely without transmitting torque. I

Lubrication of the various parts may be effected in any suitable way. For instance, in the example illustrated, lubricating oil is introduced into the centre of the coupling through an axial hole, 25, in the driving shaft, 2, whence it passes through the nozzle-like discharge, 26, into the axial holes, 21, 28, in the intermediate lengths 5 of shaft, I ll, I4. In this space, the oil is re-. tained by centrifugal force at a radial level, 29, determined by the inner edges of apertured plates, 30, 3|, secured to the intermediate shafts, I0, I4, the overflow passing outwards through spaces,

axially in the opposite direction so that the 40 32, 33, to the dogs, I, 9, and 8, I 5, respectively, and through radial ducts, 34, to the conical surfaces on the elements, I1, l8, and to the screw threads ll, l9. Oil from the bearings, 35, 36, may also be passed by annular deflectors, 31, 38, through ducts, 39, 40, to the dogs, I, 9, and 8, l5, respectively.

It will be understood that while one form of coupling has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not confined to the particular type of flexible coupling nor to the particular type of unidirectional clutch, and that many variations from the particular constructions described may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A power-transmission device comprising, in combination, a driving and a driven element subject to misalignment, each of said elements being provided with a set of dogs and an interposed coupling device in power-transmitting relation with said driving and driven elements and tiltable in relation thereto to accommodate said misalignment, said coupling device including coaxially-juxtaposed end members carrying sets of dogs engaging respectively with said sets of dogs on said driving and driven elements and said driving and driven members is also provided with an axial hollow having a nozzle-like discharge to said axial hollows of said dogcarrying elements.

4. A power-transmission device as claimed in claim 1, in which said dog-carrying elements are provided with axial hollows, in which an annulus of lubricant is held by centrifugal force, said axial hollows having annular end members to determine the radial level at which said annulus of lubricant is so held.

5. A power-transmission device as claimed in claim 1, in which said intermediate member is provided with an internal screw-thread of quick pitch engaging with a corresponding thread on one of said dog-carrying members and a coneclutch surface engaging with a corresponding surface on said other of said dog-carrying members and is provided also with operating means in rotational relation to said intermediate memher for moving said intermediate member axially.

6. A power-transmission device as claimed in claim 1, in which said set of dogs on said driving and driven members and on said dog-carrying members of said coupling device run one set radially outwards and the co-acting set radially inwards.

7. A power-transmission device as claimed in claim 1, in which said sets of dogs on said driving and driven members and on said dog-carrying members of said coupling device run one set radially outwards and the co-acting set radially inwards, the free ends of said dogs being in contact with the co-acting parts and being curved to permit tilting movement of said coupling device to accommodate change of alignment of said driving and driven elements.

STANLEY SMITH COOK.

LOUIS MORTIMER DOUGLAS. 

